Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restriction
Claims 18-20 of Group II, are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election of claims 1-17 of Group I, was made without traverse in the reply filed on May 27, 2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, it is unclear whether the steps follow each other as listed in sequence, or whether the sequence of some of the steps are different.
It is unclear whether the step of coating the display panel with a resin for a cover panel, is executed before or after the step of depositing a plurality of inorganic films having different thermal expansion coefficients, respectively, on the display panel, because the preposition “on” does not necessarily mean “directly on” but can also mean “indirectly on” the display panel, where the plurality of inorganic films having different thermal expansion coefficients, are deposited on the resin for a cover panel, or the formed cover panel, instead of directly on the display panel.
It is unclear whether the step of loading the display panel on a stage, is executed before or after the step of depositing a plurality of inorganic films having different thermal expansion coefficients, respectively, on the display panel.
Regarding claim 14, it is unclear whether the steps follow each other as listed in sequence, or whether the sequence of some of the steps are different.
It is unclear whether the step of coating the display panel with a resin for a cover panel, comes before or after the step of depositing a plurality of inorganic films on the display panel, because the preposition “on” does not necessarily mean “directly on” but can also mean “indirectly on”, where the plurality of inorganic films are deposited on the resin for a cover panel, or the formed cover panel, instead of directly on the display panel.
It is unclear whether the step of loading the display panel on a stage, is executed before or after the step of depositing a plurality of inorganic films on the display panel.
Claims 2-13 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 1, and claims 15-17 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 14, but all fail to provide any solutions to the indefinite issues described above.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure.
US 2021/0217670 teaches a method for manufacturing a display device comprising steps of loading a display component of a display device on a stage, heating the stage, depositing a plurality of inorganic films having different thermal expansion coefficients on the display component, and cooling the stage.
US 2020/0266244 teaches steps of depositing a plurality of inorganic films on a display panel, and coating a display panel with a resin for a cover panel, in a method for manufacturing a display device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Sow-Fun Hon whose telephone number is (571)272-1492. The examiner is on a flexible schedule but can usually be reached during a regular workweek between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Aaron Austin, can be reached at (571)272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Center (https://patentcenter.uspto.gov). Should you have any questions on the Patent Center system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Sophie Hon/
Sow-Fun Hon
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782